The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-06-11

Aunt Fennlman IN Deu, looking
little strange because she hadn't her
foretop on, but otherwise quite natural,
not chilly, not feverish not in pain, but per-
haps little weak. She consented cheer
fully to see a doctor, and when Jean asked
if she could eat slice of toast, she said:
80, don't take any extra trouble, bring
me just what you have for yourselves
/ brought her well-filled tray, and she
ate all there was on it while was putting
the room in order; and then she asked for
another roll, and a second cup of coffee. l
brought these to her, and turned to arrange
the dressing-table.
"Why if here isn't mothers shawl-pin I"
] exclaimed. "She has been looking every
where for it''
"Don't touch that pin I" cried Aunt Penni-
man, sitting right up in bed. "My husband
gave me thatpin when we were first married,
and it has been lost for years. l only found
it day before yesterday
left the pin on the table, and ran down
stairs to tell Jean she really had better
send for Harry, for feared Aunt Penniman
was delirious. So Harry came and made a
long professional call. He asked Aunt
Penniman Q host of questions and told us
afterward he could discover no ailment as
yet, but would call few times and give
her a mild tonic. The affair of the pin, he
thought, was only an old woman's freak.
Well, if you will believe me, from that
time on Aunt Penniman staid right there
in bed, and had all her meals brought to
her. 1t fell to Laura to wait upon her, to
battle her face, comb her hair, and keep
the room cheerful. Every day or two Doctor
Harry called; but his tonics seemed Of no
avail, except to give Aunt Penniman a
good appetite and keep up her spirits.
Meanwhile the bills, the bills! The milk
man, the meat man, the ice man, the grocer,
all began, though very respectfully to ask
for their money. Mother looked anxious,
Jean lay awake nights, and Lara, poor,
pretty, innocent Laura, began to have head
aches from staying in close room so much.
And taxes were coming due!
Every day Jean went to the post-of1ice,
rain or shine, hoping to find letter for
Aunt Penniman from some banker or
broker. She had not received letter of
any kind since she came among us, and we
began TO wonder whether those unknown
Penniman relations had not managed to get
all her property away from her before she
left them.
81 would write TO them" Isad to Jean in
one of her hours of despair.
And then Doctor Harry gave US new
sensation. He said there was absolutely
nothing at all the matter with Aunt Penni-
man, and there was dangerof her becoming
bed-ridden and fixture for life if some
thing was not done to rouse her. She was
in fact as well able as any of US to come
downstairs that very minute.
Some of mothers old resolution came
back to her at this, and showed itself by
sparkle in her quiet eyes.
'She shall come down to-morrown' she
said, with determination. We girls Won
dered how she would manage it, But the
next morning after helping me prepare an
extra delicious breakfast, she went briskly
into Aunt Pennimans room, with clean
cambria wrapper over her arm.
Come, aunt" she said in u bright voice,
"Im going to help you dress, and get you
downstairs to breakfast. Your wrens are
singing like wild in the bush by the dining
room window, and it is lovely day. The
roses have blossomed, too. Mercy How
forlorn and close this room isl You sha'n't
be kept here another day How surprised
the girls will be when you step into the
room as smart as cVern'
And meanwhile she was helping the old
lady out of bed and putting on her stock
ings and slippers. We girls were indeed
surprised when Aunt Penniman, clean and
smiling, made her appearance at the
brea1fast-table, and from that time she was
as well as ever.
But now it was almost July. We're those
monthly installments and those dividends
never coming!
"Who manages your property for you,
Aunt Penniman?n 1 asked boldly one even
ing.
"The Penniman boys. Tricky fellows,
those Pennimausr' she replied, Ike en-,
alert look springing into her eyes.
'But suppose they send you your funds
regularly!n
ooh! they always do some time or other
have all / need, she answered. restlessly
"What are their names'" inquired Jean.
"Robert and James," she said. ''They
both had curly heads when they were little
they were pretty boys"
The next day new bill came in from the
grocer, and the milkman told Jean he should
stop the milk at the end Of the week, if not
paid. Aunt Penniman owed US now over
two hundred dollars. Jean told her as
delicately as she could, how were situated,
and asked if she might write to the Penni-
mans for her to hasten them little.
81 guess 1 wouldn't to-day" said the old
lady, looking uneasy.
So Jean waited one more day. and then,
with no more words about it, wrote to
Robert Penniman. She explained to him
how we were placed, and the terms on which
we had taken Aunt Penniman to board.
She asked him to forward whatever sums
were due from her property and also men
toned her long illness and the Doctors bill.
This was on Wednesday, and we thought
we might expect reply on Friday.
Friday was rainy day, and Laura went
to the post-office. l remember how pretty
she looked as she started, with the hood OF
her gossamer pulled over her head, and
carrying the big umbrella which Jean had
! just mended. After she had gone we set
tied down to our different employments,
scarcely noticing at first when the storm
increased and the rain came in torrents.
81 hope Laura will stop at some friends
house till the worst Of it is over" said
mother, glancing at the clock.
''She will, no doubt" replied; but ever
as l spoke, looking down the road 1 saw two
| figures struggling along under big UNI
brella. Could one of them be Laura? They
came nearer and nearer, driven by the
wind and beaten by the sheets Of rain.
saw the patch on the umbrella before
could see the faces under it, and l ran t
open the front door. Up the steps they
came, laughing and undaunted Laura anC
young man who was an entire stranger
though he shook hands so cordially that hi